40 under 40 – 2017 winners

Derek Hohn

Derek Hohn
Pittsburgh/Cokeburg, PA.

Derek is currently employed by the Croatian Fraternal Union as the Director of Fraternal Programs. Derek has many titles:

  1. President Board of Trustees CFU Lodge 354 of Cokeburg, PA.
  2. Delegate to the CFU Quadrennial Conventions.
  3. Director on the Board of the CFU Scholarship Foundation.
  4. Member of the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP).
  5. Assistant instructor of the St. George Jr. Tamburitzans, member St.
  6. George Adult Tamburitza Ensemble.
  7. Accomplished tamburitza musician, Tamburaski Sastav “Barabe” and Jerry Grcevich Orchestra.
  8. Traveled to Croatia on eight occasions, mostly on tamburitzan concert tours.
  9. Met with every Croatian President and other top officials since Croatia became an independent state.

He is the grandson of long time National President of the Croatian Fraternal Union, Bernard Luketich and born into maybe the most active Croatian American family in the USA! Throughout his entire life, he was submerged into the Croatian culture and participated fully in all activities of the CFU. Being Croatian was never just a passing thought for Derek, it is woven into the fabric of his life. As a child from ages 5 to 21, he performed the songs and dances of Croatia.

He was so accomplished and well-known he received the Founder’s Award from the Tamburitza Association of America in 2014. Derek participated in almost every fraternal program the CFU offers throughout his lifetime. He has performed at every CFU junior and adult Tamburitzan Festival that is held annually; he participates in annual CFU national sports tournaments which include: golf, bowling, skiing, softball and soccer; he administers many humanitarian programs at the CFU Home Office.

Derek has already proved to be a positive force in motivating many younger (under 40) Croats to become active in some aspect of their culture and/or the CFU. Derek is a very motivated leader and has a friendly and outgoing personality. At St. Vincent’s University in Latrobe, PA he received a Bachelors in Art in chemistry and a minor in biology in 2006. Family is from Ogulin and Slunj.

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